Future of wildlife crime unit hangs in the balance

Isabella Kaminski

29 Oct 2013

The police National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) may no longer exist beyond March next year as UK governments have been unwilling to guarantee its long-term funding

The police National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) may no longer exist beyond March next year as UK governments have been unwilling to guarantee its long-term funding. This is despite the unit’s key role in domestic and international efforts to tackle criminal activity.

At a House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee debate on 10 October, the new environment minister George Eustice would not confirm whether the unit would be funded after March 2014.